A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Workplace Violence Among Nurses in Thailand

Background: Nurses experience the highest levels of workplace violence, which threatens staff safety and the quality of patient care. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of workplace violence among Thai nurses and to examine potential factors influencing its occurrence. Methods: Four databases (PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, and MEDLINE) were searched through October 15, 2025, along with Thai Journals Online to identify relevant studies that were not indexed in international databases. Studies were included if they: (a) studied workplace violence among nurses aged ≥18 years, (b) quantitatively measured workplace violence, (c) included registered nurses working in Thailand, and (d) were published in English or Thai. Single-case reports, studies that did not distinguish registered nurses from other health care workers, and review articles, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses were excluded. Results: Ten studies were included from 284 records. The published studies ranged from 2012 to 2023. The pooled prevalence across studies was 31.6% (Knapp-Hartung-adjusted 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.48; P = .03). After removing the outlier, the sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled prevalence dropped from 31.6% to 27.3% (Knapp-Hartung-adjusted 95% CI, 0.17-0.40; P = .005). The moderator analysis indicated that neither categorical nor continuous moderators significantly influenced the effect size. Conclusion: Workplace violence against nurses remains underreported, and patients and relatives are commonly identified as perpetrators. A better understanding of contributing factors associated with workplace violence can inform health care leaders in developing and implementing strategic frameworks to reduce workplace violence. Review Registration (PROSPERO): CRD420251275109.